Canada's CPTPP ratification now gives Britain access to the trade bloc's final market, with business visits extended to six months

Canada was the last holdout.

Its ratification of Britain's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership took effect on September 1. British businesses now have access under the agreement to all 11 of the country's fellow members.

The clearest immediate change is travel. Eligible British business visitors may stay in Canada for up to six months, compared with 90 days in any six month period under the two countries' existing Trade Continuity Agreement.

The agreement also opens Canadian public procurement markets that the earlier bilateral deal did not cover. The UK government identified air transport, accounting and financial services among the sectors where British suppliers gain access.

The size of the bloc

The government puts the members' combined 2025 output at £12.9tn with Britain included. That figure uses the International Monetary Fund's April 2026 outlook and the Bank of England's average exchange rate for 2025.

Britain signed the agreement in 2023. It began taking effect with the first ratifying countries in 2024, while Canada completed its ratification on July 3 this year.

More than 99 percent of Britain's current goods exports to members will be eligible for zero tariffs, according to the release. The government estimates full membership will add about £2bn a year to the British economy in the long run.

That last number is a forecast. The new access begins now.